Home Extension Architects in Derbyshire, Staffordshire & Leicestershire
Extending your home is one of the most effective ways to create space that supports the way your family lives. Whether you’re planning a larger kitchen, a new family room, a home office or a complete reconfiguration, the right design can transform how your home feels and functions.
Across Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Leicestershire, every local authority has its own expectations around scale, materials, rooflines and neighbour impact. Understanding those nuances early makes the process smoother, faster and far more predictable. Our team has spent years working with these planning departments, learning what they respond well to and how to present a proposal that stands up to scrutiny.
A well‑designed extension improves flow, brings in natural light and creates rooms that feel effortless. We approach each project with that in mind, designing spaces that work hard for family life and meet the planning requirements that keep your project moving forward.
Planning Permission for Home Extensions
Most extensions fall under either Householder Planning Permission or Permitted Development Rights. Knowing which route applies and how to maximise what’s possible is where our experience makes the biggest difference.
Permitted Development Extensions
Many homes can be extended without full planning permission, provided the design meets specific criteria around size, height, materials and placement.
Current rules allow:
- Rear extensions up to 3m on semi‑detached/terraced homes and 4m on detached homes
- Single‑storey extensions up to 4m in height
- Two‑storey extensions within 3m of the rear wall and no closer than 7m to the rear boundary
- Side extensions up to half the width of the original house
- Materials that are similar in appearance to the existing home
For larger rear extensions, the Neighbour Consultation Scheme applies – a streamlined process that still avoids full planning.
When full planning permission is required
Some projects fall outside permitted development, especially when:
- You want a larger or more ambitious design
- Your home has already been extended
- You live in a conservation area or Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB)
- You want to significantly alter the appearance of the house
- You’re adding a two‑storey extension with major glazing
In these cases, we prepare and manage a full Householder planning application, coordinating all the necessary drawings, reports and statements.
What Planning Officers Look For:
Every local authority has its own guidelines, but the core principles remain the same:
- Extensions that respect the scale and character of the original home
- Rooflines and materials that feel cohesive
- No overbearing impact on neighbours
- Daylight and sunlight protected
- High‑quality, energy‑efficient design
- Clear justification for any contemporary elements
We support your project with these expectations in mind from day one; it’s why our approval rate is so strong across the region.
Why Choose Hardwick Studio Architects
The home extension process can be complex. The Hardwick Studio Architects team makes it straightforward.
We’re a small, family‑run business that understands how families actually live – the need for storage, the need for calm and the need for space that works beautifully every day. And we’ve spent years building the planning relationships across Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Leicestershire that give your project the best possible chance of success.
We are RIBA Chartered Architects, a legally protected title guaranteeing professional standards. The team has a proven track record of planning approvals for extensions of all scales.
We’ll provide:
- Honest guidance on whether Permitted Development (extending without full planning) or full planning is right for your home
- One dedicated team, who know you and your project
- Full project management from concept to construction handover
What years of designing successful home extensions have taught us:
The brief shapes everything
Understanding how you live, and how you want to live, is the foundation of a successful extension. We take time to get this right.
Light is the most valuable material
Whether you maximise it using rooflights, glazing, or clever internal planning, natural light transforms an extension from “extra space” into a space you love.
Flow matters more than square metres
A well‑designed extension of any size improves movement and connection.
Energy efficiency pays for itself
Insulation, glazing, airtightness and heating are factored in from the start, not added as an afterthought.
Planning strategy is key
Choosing the right route – permitted development or full planning – can save time, money and stress.
Home extensions - planned and designed around your family.
Let's talk about what's possible for your home.